Butler, Wilkinson on Ritchie's RocknRolla

Category: RockNRolla News | Posted by:adminArticle Date: June 25, 2007 | Publication: FilmStalker | Author: Richard BruntonPublication/Article Link:FilmStalker
Wow, either Guy Ritchie is really coming back with a vengeance or some big name stars have made some very poor choices. Announced today are the new signings for his film RocknRolla, and those are Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton and Idris Elba.

According to The Hollywood Reporter Chris "Ludacris" Bridges has also been signed, and either they all know something we don't or they've made a terrible mistake. Let's face it Guy Ritchie has not been firing on all cylinders for some time, and even looking back at those films where he was, they just don't hold up to the test of time as well.

What's even more interesting is if you look at Layer Cake (Filmstalker review), which was directed by his production partner Matthew Vaughn, you definitely see where the talent was.

So I'm surprised these names have signed up for his next film. However let's give Guy Ritchie the benefit of the doubt, maybe he has an amazing script and a great vision for RocknRolla.

The Hollywood Reporter also has some plot details for us. Butler plays a One Two, a mobster who plays both sides of the fence. Wilkinson will play Lenny Cole, the head mobster whose old mob is losing ground to the new foreign mobs. Newton will play Butler's squeeze and Elba plays Butler's partner. The plot hits when a Russian mobster runs a crooked land deal and millions of dollars are thrown up for grabs which every gang member wants their hands on.

Well it does sound okay, but once again it's a story similar to the films he's done before. Familiar territory. Will it be different enough for us?